How to use openBoM search for Onshape data

The Cloud has and is enabling new data management paradigms. Traditionally, systems copied data from one system to another; from CAD to PDM, from PDM to BOM, from BOM to ERP, and so on. This paradigm is changing with native full cloud-based software solutions now available in the market. The market is moving from sync’ed to linked data that provide us instant access to relevant information.

That’s because linking data together creates new opportunities to access updated information, i.e., the most current. To illustrate this, we use openBOM search combined with advanced openBoM data management to navigate between connected elements of data such as supplier name, part number, and CAD documents.

Consider the following scenario:

You create a BOM from an Onshape design using the openBoM integrated app;

The BOM is shared with a procurement manager (or others on the team); and

A team member adds some information about supplied parts, for example, adding reference properties to a McMaster catalog page.

This scenario illustrates three separate yet connected silos of information: the Onshape design, a BOM, and an online catalog. The openBoM search function indexes all BOM data and allows you to search across all BOMs in your openBoM account.

Per the scenario, custom supplier (McMaster part) information is discoverable via search. You can easily identify a BOM, navigate to it, and access a BOM view. And because the BOM was created from an Onshape design, it contains live links to the Onshape database. This means a procurement manager or manufacturing planner can access Onshape documents live even without an Onshape account (with the appropriate Onshape access permission).

Watch this short video to see how the scenario described could work.

Cloud software is changing current integration paradigms with its ability to search and navigate between islands of data. openBoM search allows you to search and locate any information in your BOM. If a BOM is shared with you by anybody else, it is instantly indexed and available for search.